After a very frustrating morning, we had a pleasant afternoon in the town of Monterosso while waiting for the boat. We had lunch in a crowded pub, wandered the streets looking for souvenirs and dipped our toes in the warm Mediterranean water. By the time the boat finally arrived, the morning's worries were forgotten.
As the boat pulled away from the dock, we gaped at the crystal clear water. This is what they had in mind when they invented the word azure!
Our skins bronzed as we sat on the top deck, the wind whipping through our hair. The villages are quite picturesque, and seeing them from the ocean side was worth the wait. My pictures hardly do them justice!
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| Monterossa |
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| Vernazza |
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| Corniglia |
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| Manarola |
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| Riomaggiore |
The boat only stopped at two of the other four towns. It was a leisurely trip and took about 45 minutes or so from Monterosso to Riomaggiore, from where we caught the train back to Levanto, two hours overdue on our parking. We were very relieved to find that our wheels had not been clamped!
Because our morning started off on the wrong foot, we did not have time to venture into Vernazza or Riomaggiore, and Manarola and Corniglia are only accessible by train or on foot. I would recommend taking a full day, or even two, to explore the Cinque Terre villages.
Have you walked the Cinque Terre trail? Which way would you recommend - by boat or on foot?
For more posts in the Ciao Italy 2014 series, click here.Labels: Ciao Italy 2014, Cinque Terre, Europe, Italy
